Dear all, this is a reminder for the next UnRAVeL survey lecture that takes place this *Thursday, June 10 at 4:30pm*.*Britta Peis *will talk about *Sensitivity Analysis for Submodular Function Optimization with Applications in Algorithmic Game Theory*. Following the talk, UnRAVeL PhD student *Katharina Eickhoff* will give an informal summary of their doctoral studies within UnRAVeL.
*Abstract* We consider integral-splittable congestion games. Such games can be used to model situations where selfishly acting users send traffic in integral units through a transport- or communication network, and where the travel times on the links depend on the congestion or load induced by the joint strategy choices of the agents.
In 1973, Rosenthal proved that the existence of equilibria cannot be guaranteed in general for this class of games. In this lecture, we show that equilibria can be guaranteed, and even computed, if (and only if) the strategy spaces and the delay functions obey certain submodularity and discrete convexity properties.
In the first part of the lecture, we will start with a gentle introduction into the world of submodular functions, polymatroids, and discrete convexity.
In the second part, we will derive a sensitivity result for minimising a parameter-dependent separable discrete convex function over a polymatroid base polytope.
Finally, in the third part, we use this sensitivity result to show that a certain best-response dynamics converges to an equilibrium in integer-splittable polymatroid congestion games.
Further information can be found on https://www.unravel.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/mxjvt?lidx=1#aaaaaaaaaamxjzs and below. The event takes place on Zoom: https://rwth.zoom.us/j/96043715437?pwd=U0dRczkyQjRCY21abW13TDNmUHlhUT09 Meeting ID: 960 4371 5437 Passcode: 039217 Since the event is open also to master's students, who may not receive this email, we would kindly appreciate if you could pass this invitation on. We are looking forward to seeing many of you at the survey lecture. Best regards, Tim Seppelt for the organisation committee -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: UnRAVeL "Behind the Scenes" Survey Lecture Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 10:43:09 +0100 From: Tim Seppelt <seppelt@cs.rwth-aachen.de> To: assistenten@informatik.rwth-aachen.de, vortraege@informatik.rwth-aachen.de CC: Andreas Klinger <klinger@itsec.rwth-aachen.de>, Birgit Willms <willms@informatik.rwth-aachen.de>, Dennis Fischer <fischer@algo.rwth-aachen.de> Dear all, part of the programme of the research training group UnRAVeL is a series of introductory lectures on the topics of „randomness“ and „uncertainty“ in UnRAVeL’s research thrusts algorithms and complexity, verification, logic and languages, and their application scenarios. Each lecture is delivered by one of the researchers involved in UnRAVeL. The main aim is to provide doctoral researchers as well as master students a broad overview of the subjects of UnRAVeL. This year, 12 UnRAVeL professors will answer the following questions, based on one of their recent scientific results: * How did you get to this result? * How did you come up with certain key ideas? * How did you cope with obstacles on the way? Which ideas you had did not work out? Following these talks, PhD students will give an informal summary of their doctoral studies within UnRAVeL. All interested doctoral researchers and master students are invited to attend the UnRAVeL lecture series 2021 and engage in discussions with researchers and doctoral students. Details information can be found on https://www.unravel.rwth-aachen.de/cms/UnRAVeL/Studium/~pzix/Ringvorlesung-V... All events take place on *Thursdays from 16:30 to 18:00 on Zoom* https://rwth.zoom.us/j/96043715437?pwd=U0dRczkyQjRCY21abW13TDNmUHlhUT09 * 10/06/2021 Britta Peis: Sensitivity Analysis for Submodular Function Optimization with Applications in Algorithmic Game Theory * 17/06/2021 Nils Nießen: Optimised Maintenance of Railway Infrastructure * 24/06/2021 Gerhard Lakemeyer: Uncertainty in Robotics * 01/07/2021 Joost-Pieter Katoen: The Surprises of Probabilistic Termination * 08/07/2021 Christina Büsing: Robust Minimum Cost Flow Problem Under Consistent Flow Constraints * 15/07/2021 Gerhard Woeginger: Bilevel optimization /(to be rescheduled)/ * 22/07/2021 Ulrike Meyer: Malware Detection We are looking forward to seeing you at the lectures. Best regards, Tim Seppelt for the organisation committee https://www.unravel.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture.asp?id=aaaaaaaaaydocz...